The US Senate on Thursday voted 52-47 to block President Donald Trump from further military action in Venezuela.
The action comes less than a week after the United States President gave the go-ahead for a strike that resulted in Nicolás Maduro’s detention.
The War Powers Resolution would force president Trump to obtain congressional approval before deploying the U.S. military in Venezuela once more. It just required a simple majority to pass the Republican-controlled Senate.
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., co-sponsored the bill, which was led by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.
“Instead of responding to Americans’ concerns about the affordability crisis, President Trump started a war with Venezuela that is profoundly disrespectful to U.S. troops, deeply unpopular, suspiciously secretive and likely corrupt. How is that ‘America First?’” Kaine said. “Trump’s war is also clearly illegal because this military action was ordered without the congressional authorization the Constitution requires.”
All 47 Democrats and five Republicans voted in favour of moving the resolution to the Senate floor.
Additionally, a full vote on the bill is scheduled for next week; it will likewise need a simple majority and is anticipated to succeed after the procedural move on Thursday.
“To my Senate colleagues: Enough is enough,” Kaine said. “You were sent here to have courage and to stand up for your constituents. That means no war without a debate and vote in Congress.”
